School Admissions Policy and Guidance for Parents

⚠️ LEGAL / GOVERNANCE CONTENT — REQUIRES REBUILD AND HUMAN SIGN-OFF — The source school's legal entity, ownership, parent bodies, fee and refund terms do not transfer. This document is a structural skeleton: every bracketed fact must be supplied and approved by Al Fajer Private School and its counsel before adoption.

DOCUMENT CONTROL

Table of Contents

1. Admissions Policy
2. Overview
3. Application Requirements
4. Application Process
5. Admissions Criteria
6. Normal Application Timeline
7. Assessment Process
8. Requirements for Applicants who are Arab Nationals
9. Special Needs
10. Placement of Twins/Multiples
11. Application Decision
12. Waitlists
13. Age Qualification Guide
14. Medical Requirements
15. Regulatory Documentation
16. Exit Procedures
17. Application Checklist
18. Updating a Child's Information
19. School Day
20. Onboarding of New Families
21. Fees, Terms and Conditions
22. Additional Costs
23. Admissions Contact Details
24. Glossary of Terms

• Appendix 1. Ministry of Education Approval
• Appendix 2. Procedures for Relocating Families
• Appendix 3. Document Attestation for Students Coming from Abroad
• Appendix 4. Recommended Immunization Schedule for the Kingdom of Bahrain

1 Admissions Policy

1.1 Al Fajer Private School (hereinafter referred to as "AFS" or "the School") is a non-profit, coeducational school in Barbar, Kingdom of Bahrain, offering a bilingual American-curriculum program for children from KG1 through Grade 6. Children may enter KG1 from 2 years 9 months of age. Instruction is delivered in English and Arabic, with early French also introduced.

1.2 AFS aims to admit any student who can access and benefit from the AFS program, which combines an American curriculum with the Bahrain Ministry of Education program requirements, reflecting and respecting the local context of Bahrain. The program spans Kindergarten (KG1 – KG3), Grades 1 – 3, and Grades 4 – 6.

1.3 Happiness and confidence, emotional and social development are equally as important as intellectual development. For this reason, students are assessed for entry to the grade level appropriate for their age (see Section 13).

2 Overview

2.1 This policy contains information about applying for a school place at Al Fajer Private School.

2.2 AFS offers an American-style education from KG1 to Grade 6. Grade 6 is the highest grade offered; the School does not offer secondary grades.

2.3 The School caters for students who have the following attributes:

• 2.3.1 Age-appropriate language development. [NEEDS AFS INPUT: confirm AFS's English-language expectations at each entry level — the source school required English proficiency, but AFS delivers a bilingual English/Arabic program]
• 2.3.2 A positive attitude to learning.
• 2.3.3 The ability to thrive in the School's classroom environment.
• 2.3.4 Individual learning needs which can be largely met within the mainstream classroom and without significant additional adult support.

2.4 Parent/s or legal guardian/s are advised to take time to read this policy and guide on AFS admissions procedures and requirements before completing the Application Form.

2.5 Applicants are expected to show age-appropriate readiness to participate in and benefit from the School's program (see 2.3.1).

2.6 The School will not accept applications where the desired date of entry is more than one year ahead of the date of application.

2.7 Application forms must be accurately completed and signed by parent/s or legal guardian/s. The parent/s or legal guardian/s must include a copy of the child's last school report (where the child has attended school) and any additional information, e.g., professional educational or medical diagnosis documents and recommendation letters. Withholding such information or providing inaccurate details may result in the child's place being withdrawn. A separate application form must be completed for each child.

2.8 If places are unavailable in the academic grade level required, the child will be put on a waiting list. The waiting lists will close when maximum numbers are reached.

2.9 School Tours

• 2.9.1 Should a school tour be required, the parent or legal guardian must contact the School's admissions team by phone (+973 1755 0011), WhatsApp (+973 3364 1011), or email (contact@afs.edu.bh) to arrange a tour. The team will also be happy to answer any queries parent/s or legal guardian/s may have. School tours are arranged by prior appointment.

3 Application Requirements

3.1 The following documentation is required to support the application form:

• 3.1.1 A copy of the child's passport showing the child's date of birth and nationality. A student's assigned nationality is determined by the nationality registered on the CPR.
• 3.1.2 The child's most recent school report. A copy of the child's latest school report, including comments on academic and social progress and behavior, must be submitted with the form. This must be stamped and signed by the issuing school. If the child has been homeschooled, the School will request a written report from the institution the parent/s or legal guardian/s have registered with. A report issued by a student's parent/s or legal guardian/s does not apply. All reports should be in English or a certified translation. (This is not required if the child has not yet been attending school — for example, most KG1 applicants.)
• 3.1.3 A confidential reference from a senior leader at the child's previous school, including safeguarding clearance, may be requested at a later date.
• 3.1.4 The child's vaccination records from birth. Al Fajer Private School follows the Ministry of Health's Immunization Schedule for the Kingdom of Bahrain. It is therefore essential for the child to have a complete vaccination record prior to starting at AFS; parent/s or legal guardian/s must refer to the medical requirements within this policy (Section 14) for further information.
• 3.1.5 Two passport-size photographs from within the last 6 months.
• 3.1.6 The application fee, if applicable. [NEEDS AFS INPUT: whether AFS charges an application fee, its amount, refund status, and payment methods — the School's published 2026/27 fee schedule lists a BD 200 registration fee for new students but no separate application fee]
• 3.1.7 A copy of the child's CPR card (Central Population Registration card), which is available once the residency permit in Bahrain has been granted. An application can be placed before this is received on the understanding that it has been applied for by the parent or guardian.
• 3.1.8 A signed copy of the School's Terms and Conditions (see the Articles of Governance, Appendix A). [NEEDS AFS INPUT: AFS's terms and conditions of admission — pending rebuild]
• 3.1.9 Copies of parent/s' or legal guardian/s' passports and CPR cards (Central Population Registration cards).
• 3.1.10 A signed Medication Consent Form.

3.2 If information relevant to the extent of the child's educational, emotional, social, or health needs has not been disclosed during the admissions process, the School reserves the right to ask the parent/s or legal guardian/s to withdraw the child when it becomes apparent at a later stage once the child has been admitted to the School. This may include educational psychologist reports, medical reports, or information about medication being taken.

3.3 The Application Form and supporting documents can be submitted by hand or be scanned and submitted by email. The date the completed application (including vaccination records, passport copies, reports, and any applicable application fee) is received by the School will determine the applicant's initial place on the waiting list.

4 Application Process

4.1 Once the School has received the completed application form, the following process will take place:

• 4.1.1 The School will check that the desired date of entry is not more than one year ahead of the date of application. The School will not accept applications where the desired date of entry is more than one year ahead of the date of application.
• 4.1.2 The School will check whether a place is available or likely to become available in the appropriate grade level for the child, either on the date the parent has requested or, if no places are available, within one year of that date. If a place is likely to be available, the School can continue processing the application.
• 4.1.3 If the School considers it unlikely that the child will gain entry within one year of the requested date, the parent will be informed that if they wish to continue with the process, the child will be assessed for a place on the waiting list only, with no guarantee of a date of entry. The School will also request the most recent school report at this point.
• 4.1.4 If a place is available for the child, the School will then proceed with checking the application information and supporting documents.
• 4.1.5 If the application is incomplete, the parent will be requested to provide the missing item(s). Provided that the parent has submitted the passport copies, school reports, and any applicable application fee, the School will, at the School's discretion, allow the application to proceed.
• 4.1.6 Once the parent has submitted all the required admissions documentation, the parent will then be contacted by the admissions team to schedule an appointment for the School's friendly, age-appropriate entrance assessment (see Section 7) or, in certain circumstances (e.g., a pandemic situation), the student will be assessed based on the previous school report.

5 Admissions Criteria

5.1 Students are admitted to AFS where the School's program is appropriate for the individual child and the child can meaningfully access the curriculum offered.

5.2 Admission to the School requires the following elements to be successfully completed:

• 5.2.1 The AFS Admissions Application Form completed in full with all accompanying documents, including all relevant medical information, as required by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health.
• 5.2.2 Required accompanying documents to be submitted: copy of passport, CPR, school report (where applicable), leaving certificate from the previous school (where applicable), vaccination and medical records, and the signed Terms and Conditions form.
• 5.2.3 Completion of the School's friendly, age-appropriate entrance assessment. For Kindergarten applicants (KG1 – KG3), this is an observation-based evaluation; for Grades 1 – 6, it consists of simple, age-appropriate tasks. [NEEDS AFS INPUT: confirm the entrance-assessment content and format for each grade level] Students may be evaluated for admission based on their previous school reports in extenuating circumstances, e.g., a pandemic situation.
• 5.2.4 Satisfactory reports/references from previous schools, through which the School can check academic attainment, effort, homework record, classroom and general behavior, attendance, and punctuality.
• 5.2.5 Payment of fees, which include: the registration fee of BD 200 for new students (non-refundable, per the School's published 2026/27 fee schedule) and tuition fees per the published fee schedule. [NEEDS AFS INPUT: confirm whether AFS also charges an application fee, a book/resource deposit, or an educational technology fee — these items are carried from the source policy as placeholders only]

6 Normal Application Timeline

6.1 Although the School accepts students throughout the school year, the usual time to start the application process for entry at the beginning of the school year is about one year in advance. [NEEDS AFS INPUT: confirm AFS's application window and key application dates] Should the applications received exceed the places available, the School will close the applications at its discretion. Places for the new school year are usually finalized by the end of the current academic year.

7 Assessment Process

7.1 The School's entrance assessments are friendly and age-appropriate, and are designed to ensure that the curriculum and teaching the School offers are appropriate to the child's learning needs. In any grade level, occasionally, additional assessment may be required at the School's discretion, e.g., EAL (English as an Additional Language). The School places children in an age-appropriate class according to the American curriculum, taking into consideration the previous grade completed for Ministry of Education purposes. For general guidance, the usual provisions are followed, but in extenuating circumstances, e.g., a pandemic situation, students will be evaluated on the most recent school report.

7.2 Kindergarten (KG1 – KG3) applicants are observed on AFS premises or by visiting the child's current preschool. The assessment is observation-based: children play and interact using educational toys provided, and are observed for language development, social skills, and behavior. Children entering KG1 may join from 2 years 9 months of age and must be diaper-free. [NEEDS AFS INPUT: confirm the Kindergarten assessment window and scheduling in the year prior to entry]

7.3 At the start of the school year, KG2 and KG3 children are assessed in a similar way to KG1 children. As the year progresses, assessment also takes account of phonic knowledge, early reading, and early number skills.

7.4 Applicants to Grades 1 – 6 are assessed on AFS premises through simple, age-appropriate tasks. These typically include a friendly conversation, observation of social skills, and short literacy and numeracy activities appropriate to the grade level applied for. Entrance assessments at AFS are not conducted under examination conditions. [NEEDS AFS INPUT: confirm the format, content, and duration of the entrance-assessment tasks for Grades 1 – 6]

8 Requirements for Applicants who are Arab Nationals

8.1 The nationality noted on the CPR determines an applicant's nationality. If the child is applying for admission with a passport from an Arab state, then the child is required by the Ministry of Education in Bahrain to take Arabic language and citizenship classes as part of the curriculum program. Applicants applying with Arab state passports may also be required to sit an entry assessment in Arabic to determine their level of proficiency in the language. Applicants who are Muslims are required to take Islamic studies as part of the curriculum program. These Ministry-mandated subjects form part of AFS's bilingual American + Bahrain Ministry of Education program.

8.2 If a parent would like his or her child to be included in Arabic instruction for native speakers, they must provide evidence in the application that the child is of Arab nationality. [NEEDS AFS INPUT: confirm how AFS groups students for Arabic instruction]

9 Special Needs

9.1 Al Fajer Private School is a mainstream school and so has only limited resources to cater for students whose learning needs require significant support. It is not in the best interests of anyone, and least of all the student involved, if he or she is not able to benefit from the educational program the School offers.

9.2 Parent/s or legal guardian/s of children who have a history of requiring support that falls outside of the classroom are required to bring to the attention of the School all the detailed information regarding their child's specific learning needs. This information should include previous school reports, learning-support reports, and copies of previous IEPs (Individual Education Plans) and/or reports from educational psychologists. Parent/s or legal guardian/s are strongly advised to meet and discuss with the Principal or the admissions team prior to making a formal application, to ensure that AFS is able to meet the needs of the child.

9.3 Failure to declare accurately at the stage of application the extent of a child's individual learning needs may result in parent/s or legal guardian/s being subsequently asked to withdraw their child because the School is unable to meet his or her needs. This is a situation that the School is anxious to avoid, because the School is aware that it may impact adversely on the child's self-esteem and future learning prospects.

10 Placement of Twins/Multiples

10.1 On the whole, the School recommends that twins or multiples are placed in separate classes. Requests for any exceptions can be made by contacting the Principal directly.

11 Application Decision

11.1 The School is committed to meeting each student's needs to the best of its ability. The final decision on acceptance and placement is based on the potential of the applicant to benefit from the programs and educational services available. The acceptance decision is based on the following criteria:

• 11.1.1 The entrance assessment, which is designed to confirm that a student will be able to access the School's curriculum at an age-appropriate level.
• 11.1.2 Age-appropriate language development (see 2.3.1).
• 11.1.3 The student's previous records of academic attainment and references from their current school that were submitted with the application form.
• 11.1.4 Previous attendance records and behavior will also be reviewed.

11.2 The following factors are carried over from the source policy as proposals. [NEEDS AFS INPUT: confirm AFS's admission-priority factors and the factors that may reduce the likelihood of an offer (11.2 – 11.3)] Aspects that may increase the likelihood of being offered a place:

• 11.2.1 Evidence of exemplary academic and behavioral records.
• 11.2.2 Siblings already attending AFS.
• 11.2.3 The child has limited ability to access a local education.
• 11.2.4 The child has made an early application (the earliest possible date is one year in advance of the desired date of entry).

11.3 Aspects that can reduce the likelihood of being offered a place:

• 11.3.1 The child is in need of learning support that is either at a level that the School cannot provide OR there are no vacancies available within the School's learning-support program.
• 11.3.2 The parent/s or legal guardian/s have not met fees or other financial commitments to a previous school.
• 11.3.3 The parent/s or legal guardian/s have acted in a manner that is unsupportive of the School and/or its aims and objectives.
• 11.3.4 The parent/s or legal guardian/s have been unsupportive of the School with regard to the education, behavior, etc., of siblings enrolled, or students previously enrolled, at AFS.
• 11.3.5 The application was later than others who were also eligible for the places available.
• 11.3.6 The parent/s or legal guardian/s have a poor fee-paying record for children currently or previously enrolled in the School, or at other schools.

11.4 When the application has passed the above criteria, the School then must review the availability of places in the grade level that the child qualifies for. The possible decisions are:

• 11.4.1 Unconditional place offered in the grade level for which the applicant applied.
• 11.4.2 Conditional place offered in the grade level for which the applicant applied. This would be linked to conditions the School has set (and which the parent/s or legal guardian/s must accept prior to entry) to help the child succeed in the School.
• 11.4.3 Met the entrance criteria, but there are no places available in the grade level. Refer to Section 12 for clarification.
• 11.4.4 The parent/s or legal guardian/s are requested to provide further information/school reports, and then a re-assessment may be required at the discretion of the School, after which the application will be re-assessed.
• 11.4.5 The application was unsuccessful. The child does not meet the eligibility and requirements for a place at AFS. This decision is reached based upon academics, behavioral records, and readiness to access the AFS community.

12 Waitlists

12.1 Waitlists exist for most grade levels, so parent/s or legal guardian/s are encouraged to apply early for a place at the School. The School operates a rolling waitlist system, so if children are unable to gain entry in the desired period of enrollment, their applications will continue to stay on the School's waitlist until a place becomes available throughout the academic year.

12.2 Being placed on the waitlist does NOT in any way guarantee that a place will later be offered to the child. The School selects students from the waitlist according to the criteria listed in Section 11, Application Decision. The date of application or the date of being placed on the waitlist is not the most important factor.

12.3 If, towards the end of the academic year, the child has not been admitted, contact the admissions team, who will advise further on the next steps. It is likely that the child will be offered a re-evaluation that will enable the School to judge his/her progress since the first assessment, and, subject to a successful assessment, the child would be waitlisted as a priority to roll over to the next academic year.

12.4 The School can accept a deferred application for one academic year only. [NEEDS AFS INPUT: confirm AFS's deferral terms — see also the Articles of Governance, Appendix A]

12.5 Below are the next steps after being offered a place:

• 12.5.1 Once an applicant has qualified and a vacancy becomes available, he or she will be offered a place according to the admission priority from the waitlist.
• 12.5.2 The admissions team will inform any successful applicant that they have been offered a place, both by telephone and by email. The email will contain a deadline date for the parent/s or legal guardian/s to accept the offer made to the child. To accept, the parent/s or legal guardian/s must, by the date specified, sign and return the Parent–School Agreement (PSA) Form [NEEDS AFS INPUT: confirm the name and form of AFS's enrollment agreement] and pay the following for each child accepted into the School:
  • 12.5.2.1 The Registration Fee of BD 200 (new students). This is a once-only fee that is additional to the tuition fees and is non-refundable, per the School's published 2026/27 fee schedule.
  • 12.5.2.2 [NEEDS AFS INPUT: whether AFS charges a refundable book/resource deposit, its amount, and its refund conditions — the source school's deposit has not been carried over]
• 12.5.3 The School may withdraw the offer for applicants who miss the specified deadline for the return of the signed Parent–School Agreement and the payment of the fees due at acceptance.
• 12.5.4 After the School has received the signed Parent–School Agreement and the fees due at acceptance, the School will raise the invoice for the first term's tuition fees and any other applicable fees.

12.6 Enrollment in the School is not considered final until the registration fee, the first term's tuition fee, any other applicable fees [NEEDS AFS INPUT: confirm the full list of fees due at enrollment], and all documentation have been received by the School. Once a child has been admitted to Al Fajer Private School, the first term is probationary.

12.7 Below is the Conditional Offers Policy:

• 12.7.1 If a conditional offer (the conditions of which are noted on the Parent–School Agreement) is made to a new student, the admissions team [NEEDS AFS INPUT: AFS's admissions lead role] must ensure the parent/s or legal guardian/s and the student are clear regarding the consequences of not meeting the conditions by the review date.
• 12.7.2 It is the responsibility of the Principal, or a senior leader designated by the Principal [NEEDS AFS INPUT: confirm which AFS role conducts conditional-status reviews], to review the conditional status of the student(s) admitted to AFS. The procedure for reviewing conditional entry is as follows:
  • 12.7.2.1 Collate central data from the School's assessment records. [NEEDS AFS INPUT: AFS student-information system]
  • 12.7.2.2 Meet with the student's teachers for the areas which relate to the conditional offer and ascertain the progress (or not) that is being made. Establish if the student is a cause for concern.
  • 12.7.2.3 Contact the parent of the student to establish the extent to which the terms of the conditional offer have been met.
  • 12.7.2.4 Request from the parent/s or legal guardian/s as much of the following evidence as possible to prove that the conditional offer has been met. Evidence should take the form of:
    • 12.7.2.4.1 A report from a tutor outlining the contents of the tuition carried out with the student and the progress made (to include contact details of said tutor).
    • 12.7.2.4.2 A report from an after-school class outlining the contents of the tuition carried out with the student and the progress made (with an official school stamp and contact details of the teacher who delivered the content).
    • 12.7.2.4.3 A retake of an AFS admissions assessment.
    • 12.7.2.4.4 School assessments that provide evidence of progress made since entry to the School.
  • 12.7.2.5 Request a meeting with the parent/s or legal guardian/s to go through the evidence collated and, as a result, establish if the terms of the conditional offer have been met.
  • 12.7.2.6 Forward all related material to the Principal for a final decision regarding the conditional status of the student.
  • 12.7.2.7 Recommend to the Principal whether the conditional status:
    • 12.7.2.7.1 Has been passed.
    • 12.7.2.7.2 Should be extended.
    • 12.7.2.7.3 Requires further action (such as removal of the student from the School) to be explored.
  • 12.7.2.8 The Principal writes to the parent/s or legal guardian/s finalizing the conditional situation of the student.
  • 12.7.2.9 A copy of the review of the conditional offer and its outcome will be added to the student's file.

13 Age Qualification Guide

13.1 The School admits students to the grade level appropriate for their age.

[NEEDS AFS INPUT: confirm AFS's official date-of-birth cut-off table for each grade level before this section is published. The table below is an age-true projection built from AFS's published KG1 entry age (from 2 years 9 months); it is NOT an official cut-off table, and the source school's date-of-birth ranges have deliberately not been carried over.]

13.2 The above guide must be used to understand in which class the child will be considered for entry. Parent/s or legal guardian/s are encouraged to contact the admissions team directly for any information concerning entry to any grade level.

13.3 The School does not accept applications more than one year in advance of the desired date of entry.

14 Medical Requirements

14.1 Al Fajer Private School follows the Ministry of Health's Immunization Schedule for the Kingdom of Bahrain (please see Appendix 4). It is therefore essential for the child to have a complete vaccination record prior to starting at Al Fajer Private School. [NEEDS AFS INPUT: have the School's medical staff verify the vaccination lists in 14.2 – 14.3 and Appendix 4 against the current Ministry of Health schedule]

14.2 Vaccinations required for KG1 students:

• 14.2.1 Parent/s or legal guardian/s must ensure that the child has had the following vaccinations:
  • 2 doses of Hepatitis A
  • 3 doses of Hepatitis B
  • 1 dose of Meningococcal ACWY
  • 2 doses of MMR
  • 4 doses of DTP/Hib (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough, and Haemophilus Influenzae, given at 2, 4, 6, and 18 months)
  • 4 doses of Oral Polio (or three doses of IPV)
  • 3 doses of Pneumococcal (Prevnar)
  • 2 doses of Chicken Pox vaccine (if the child has had Chicken Pox, they do not need this vaccination)

14.3 Vaccinations required for all children aged four years and above (KG2 and above):

• 14.3.1 All vaccinations as listed above, and:
  • Preschool boosters: DTP and Polio (given at 4 – 5 years of age)
  • 2nd dose of MMR, if not already given

14.4 The child will not be permitted to start at Al Fajer Private School if parent/s or legal guardian/s cannot produce a complete vaccination record. Parent/s or legal guardian/s must have at least started any Hepatitis A/B courses, or have contacted the School's medical staff [NEEDS AFS INPUT: AFS school nurse/medical contact details], or produced a letter from the doctor as to why the child does not have the required Ministry of Health vaccinations for Bahrain.

14.5 Below is the information required by the School in an emergency:

• 14.5.1 Experience has taught schools that, should there be a cause to call for emergency services because the child needs to be brought to the hospital, the School must be informed of the following in order for the School and for the emergency response team to provide a fast, rapid response in this situation:
  • 14.5.1.1 Any allergies, medical conditions, and any recent diagnosis must be mentioned to the School.
  • 14.5.1.2 Parent's/legal guardian's contact details need to be provided, and the School kept up to date with any changes. There have been instances when parent/s or legal guardian/s were completely unreachable during emergencies; phone numbers must therefore be kept available. An emergency contact form will be given, and this is to be completed before the child begins in School. As well as parent/s' or legal guardian/s' details, the School also requires two further contacts in case parent/s or legal guardian/s are uncontactable.
  • 14.5.1.3 Provide a copy of the child's current CPR and insurance card (both sides). Paramedics and staff can be forced to stall emergency transfers due to incomplete documents.

14.6 Contact details of the School's medical staff for any queries: [NEEDS AFS INPUT: AFS school nurse/medical staff names (role-based), phone line, and email — the source school's named nurses and contact details have been removed]

15 Regulatory Documentation

15.1 Ministry of Education Approval. The Private Education Directorate of the Ministry of Education of Bahrain mandates transfer-approval procedures for students entering Grade 2 and above. [NEEDS AFS INPUT: confirm the grade levels to which the Ministry's transfer-approval procedures apply at AFS — the source policy applied them from students aged approximately 7 and above, which corresponds to Grade 2 and above under AFS's structure]

15.2 If a child is transferring from another school in Bahrain, the parent must upload the following documents on the Ministry of Education website:

• 15.2.1 Acceptance letter from AFS.
• 15.2.2 Copy of the most recent end-of-year or end-of-term report, stamped and signed by the issuing school.
• 15.2.3 Copy of the transfer certificate and No Objection letter (clearly stating no fees are outstanding), stamped and signed by the issuing school.
• 15.2.4 Copy of CPR/Saudi Iqama.

15.3 If a child is transferring from a school outside of Bahrain, refer to Appendix 1.

16 Exit Procedures

16.1 If a child is transferring to another school or the family is relocating, the parent/s or legal guardian/s must inform the admissions team in the first instance in writing, preferably by email. The team will be able to assist in case of any request for external entrance-assessment proctoring for the child or references required for the child's new school. Parent/s or legal guardian/s must also inform the child's homeroom teacher and the Principal in writing prior to the child's withdrawal from the School. [NEEDS AFS INPUT: AFS's required withdrawal notice period and any fees payable in lieu of notice — the source school required one full academic term's notice, with one full term's fees in lieu where notice was shorter; these terms must not be adopted without AFS and counsel approval] Adequate notice allows the team to prepare any requested exit documentation, references, transcripts, and reports.

16.2 This documentation will not be provided until all school fees are paid and all books and equipment belonging to the School have been returned. The child's homeroom teacher will assist them with the necessary exit arrangements before he or she leaves the School.

16.3 For students traveling within the GCC, parent/s or legal guardian/s must be aware that some schools require the transfer certificate to be attested by:

• 16.3.1 The Ministry of Education.
• 16.3.2 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• 16.3.3 The consulate or embassy of the country in which the child will continue education.

This is the correct order for this process, and this is the responsibility of the parent/s or legal guardian/s.

17 Application Checklist

17.1 The below requirements are required for a child's application to AFS:

• 17.1.1 Signed and completed application form
• 17.1.2 Copy of the child's passport
• 17.1.3 Copies of parent/s' or legal guardian/s' passports
• 17.1.4 Copy of the child's Bahraini CPR/Smart Card/Saudi Iqama
• 17.1.5 Copies of parent/s' or legal guardian/s' CPR/Smart Card/Saudi Iqama
• 17.1.6 Two passport-sized photographs of the child
• 17.1.7 Copy of the child's immunization records from birth
• 17.1.8 The child's most recent school report (where the child has attended school)
• 17.1.9 All special circumstances that the child requires, recorded
• 17.1.10 Completed medical consent form
• 17.1.11 Paid registration fee of BD 200 (new students) and any other applicable fees [NEEDS AFS INPUT: confirm the full list of fee items due at application and enrollment — e.g., application fee, deposits, technology fee]
• 17.1.12 Signed Terms and Conditions
• 17.1.13 Paid first-term tuition fee per the School's published fee schedule

18 Updating a Child's Information

18.1 It is essential to keep the admissions team informed of any change of details of the child and parent/s or legal guardian/s.

18.2 When a place becomes available, the School will attempt to notify the parent/s or legal guardian/s at the home or mobile numbers provided. If parent/s or legal guardian/s are not in a position to commit at that time, the place will be offered to another applicant and the child will remain on the waitlist until a second opportunity arises. Should parent/s or legal guardian/s not be able to accept a place when the School offers again, the child's application will be withdrawn. Any future interest in joining AFS would require a new application.

19 School Day

19.1 The school week at AFS runs Sunday – Thursday, and the school day is designed to reflect the local climate.

19.2 [NEEDS AFS INPUT: AFS's school-day schedule — staff arrival time, school start time, registration cut-off, lesson start time, and dismissal times by grade band (KG1 – KG3, Grades 1 – 3, Grades 4 – 6), plus any after-school activity hours]

19.3 Children who arrive at School after registration begins will be marked as late. Children who arrive after lessons have started must report to the main reception. (Times per 19.2.)

20 Onboarding of New Families

20.1 The admissions team organizes a virtual and in-person onboarding for new families at the beginning of each year and each term.

20.2 The admissions team provides an onboarding booklet for every new family that joins the School.

20.3 The School will contact new families regarding the onboarding of new students.

20.4 Settling-in calls are conducted by the admissions team one to two weeks after joining, to check with the family whether the child has settled well in School or is experiencing any issues. Settling-in call reports are then shared with the Principal.

21 Fees, Terms and Conditions

21.1 Payment of Tuition Fees

• 21.1.1 Tuition fees are set out in the School's published fee schedule (AFS operates a three-term year). All fees must be paid in accordance with the invoice, on or before the deadline date on the invoice.
• 21.1.2 [NEEDS AFS INPUT: AFS's late-payment consequences — the source school's exclusion-and-cancellation terms for unpaid fees have not been carried over and must be defined with counsel]
• 21.1.3 [NEEDS AFS INPUT: AFS's refund terms for absence/sickness and its fee terms for children joining mid-term — the source school's terms have not been carried over]

21.2 Method of Payment of Tuition Fees

• 21.2.1 [NEEDS AFS INPUT: AFS's accepted payment methods, payee name, payment locations, and treatment of bank charges — the source school's bank, payment-service, and branch instructions have not been carried over]

22 Additional Costs

22.1 The below items are mandatory additional costs paid separately by the parent/s or legal guardian/s and not included in tuition fees:

• 22.1.1 Uniforms
• 22.1.2 [NEEDS AFS INPUT: confirm whether an educational technology fee or any other mandatory charge applies at AFS]

22.2 The below items are non-mandatory additional costs paid separately by the parent/s or legal guardian/s and not included in tuition fees. [NEEDS AFS INPUT: confirm which optional services AFS actually offers (e.g., cafeteria, bus service, instrumental tuition) and their costs]

• 22.2.1 Some extracurricular activities conducted outside school
• 22.2.2 Field trips
• 22.2.3 Cafeteria lunches
• 22.2.4 Bus transportation
• 22.2.5 After-school enrichment programs

23 Admissions Contact Details

24 Glossary of Terms

Appendix 1. Ministry of Education Approval

The Private Education Directorate of the Ministry of Education of Bahrain mandates that students within the applicable grade levels (see Section 15.1) must adhere to the following procedures. [NEEDS AFS INPUT: verify these requirements against the Ministry of Education's current published procedures]

Requirements:

1. Original transcripts (mark sheet) for the last year/grade studied and a transfer/leaving certificate.
2. Certified legal translation — if the educational documents are issued in languages other than English or Arabic.
3. A copy of a valid passport and CPR (Central Population Registry) or Saudi RP (Iqama).

Attestation:

• Students relocating from GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, and Oman):

  • Signed and stamped by the school that issued the report/certificates.
  • Stamp of the Ministry of Education in the country of issue.

• Students relocating from countries issuing the Hague Apostille stamp:

  • Signed and stamped by the school that issued the report/certificates.
  • Apostille certification.

• Students relocating from other countries:

  • Signed and stamped by the school that issued the report/certificates.
  • Stamp of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country of issue.
  • Stamp of Bahrain's embassy, or any entity acting on its behalf, in the country of issue.
  • Stamp of the embassy of the issuing country in Bahrain, or any entity acting on its behalf.
  • Stamp of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bahrain.

Appendix 2. Procedures for Relocating Families

Once you relocate to Bahrain, please submit the required documents with the appropriate stamps to the admissions office, addressed to [NEEDS AFS INPUT: AFS admissions contact for attestation submissions], for attestation by the Bahrain Ministry of Education.

Parents are responsible for ensuring that all requirements are met; the School will not be liable for any issues arising from incomplete or late submissions.

Documents must be collected promptly from the admissions office upon notification, as the School will not be responsible for any loss of or damage to originals not retrieved in a timely manner.

Appendix 3. Document Attestation for Students Coming from Abroad

Families relocating from abroad must have their child's school documents attested in accordance with the chains set out in Appendix 1 before they can be submitted to the Ministry of Education. The admissions team can advise families on where to begin.

[NEEDS AFS INPUT: AFS's attestation guidance for relocating families — country-specific steps, any recommended service providers, fees, and contacts, consistent with the attestation chains in Appendix 1. The source policy contained a country-specific attestation process for one origin country, including a named provider contact and per-stamp fees; that content was school-specific and has not been carried over.]

Appendix 4. Recommended Immunization Schedule for the Kingdom of Bahrain

[NEEDS AFS INPUT: verify this reproduction of the Ministry of Health schedule against the current published version before use]

CHILDREN

ADOLESCENTS

Note: AFS enrolls students through Grade 6 only (typically up to age 12); the adolescent rows are retained for reference because they form part of the Kingdom's published schedule.